Ziam: Netflix’s low-key Thai zombie film might be your next unexpected obsession. Here's everything we know about it

Looking for a new bite to sink your teeth into? Ziam, Netflix’s upcoming Thai zombie film, might just shuffle into your watchlist before you even notice. It’s low-key, a little weird, and has enough Muay Thai kicks to keep your brain (and guts) glued to the screen.

The film follows Singh, an ex-Muay Thai fighter who finds himself throwing elbows at the undead to protect his girlfriend, Rin, and a young boy trapped inside a hospital. Less apocalypse on rooftops, more blood-slicked hospital corridors and desperate hallway showdowns.

Dropping on July 9, Ziam might not break the internet, but it might quietly gnaw at your curiosity and become your next late-night obsession.

What is Ziam about?

Ziam throws you straight into the middle of a zombie outbreak, no time for fancy speeches. Singh, a former Muay Thai fighter, isn’t here to save the world. He just wants to protect Rin, his doctor girlfriend, and a young boy who happens to get caught in the crossfire.

Instead of city-wide chaos, most of the action crawls through tight hospital hallways. Think sweaty palms on sterile tiles, flickering emergency lights, and fists smashing skulls at close range. There’s no grand plan or heroic speech, just raw survival and broken breathing between fights.

At its core, the film isn’t about big heroic arcs. It’s about keeping the one person you love alive, even if it means punching through a wall of the undead.

Who stars in Ziam?

Leading the charge and the roundhouse kicks is Mark Prin Suparat as Singh. If you thought Muay Thai was intense in the ring, wait until you see him trading blows with zombies in narrow hallways.

Nychaa Nuttanicha plays Rin, the doctor who ends up fighting for more than just her patients' lives. Together, they create a messy, almost tender chaos that feels way too real when the walls start closing in.

There’s also Vayla Wanvayla who plays the young boy they’re trying to protect, adding just enough innocence to make every close call feel like a gut punch.

A few familiar faces in supporting roles pop up too, but trust us, once the undead start moaning, you’ll be solely focused on the trio trying not to become lunch.

Why Ziam stands out among zombie films

Most zombie films go big, with collapsing cities, endless hordes of the undead, and explosions lighting up the skyline. Ziam does the opposite. It locks you inside narrow hospital corridors where every punch echoes and every slip could mean a bite to the throat.

It’s part martial arts film, part survival nightmare. Singh doesn’t use guns or flashy traps. He relies on elbows, knees, and sheer adrenaline. The close-quarters combat feels intimate and almost claustrophobic, turning each fight into something personal rather than just another zombie headshot tally.

Instead of epic missions to save the world, this film zeroes in on a single goal: get the people you love out alive. It’s messy, fast, and surprisingly human. The kind of film that makes you sweat more than scream.

When and where to watch Ziam

Ready to throw yourself into the blood-slick chaos? Ziam drops on Netflix on July 9. No need to pack your survival kit or sharpen your machete. Just clear your schedule and maybe keep a stress ball nearby. Fans of Kingdom, All of Us Are Dead, or anyone craving a more grounded, hand-to-hand zombie brawl will want to tune in.

Grab your snacks (preferably not brains), turn off the lights, and get ready to question how quiet a hospital hallway can really be when fists start flying.

How Ziam connects to Thailand’s horror tradition

Thailand has a long love affair with ghost stories and horror films, from classic spirit legends like Pee Mak to more psychological chills like Shutter. But zombie stories have always been a rarer breed. This film feels like a bold step into this territory, using traditional Thai storytelling beats, family loyalty, spiritual tension, and raw physicality to breathe new life into the undead genre.

The focus on close, almost ritual-like combat connects deeply with Thai cinema’s respect for discipline and body movement. Instead of relying on jump scares or grotesque zombie designs alone, this movie brings the tension straight into each punch and knee strike. The result is a film that feels rooted in Thailand’s cultural DNA while still feeding global zombie fans their favorite brain-crunching thrills.

Ziam and the Netflix Thai wave

Netflix has been betting big on Thai content in recent years. Series like Girl from Nowhere and unexpected hits like The Stranded paved the way for more daring projects. Even Hunger, the intense culinary thriller, showed that there is an appetite for Thai stories that go beyond romantic comedies and light dramas.

Ziam continues this trend but carves its own niche with an unpolished, bone-cracking style. While not as flashy as The Stranded, it sits closer to the unexpected success of Mad Unicorn, a Thai thriller that quietly built a global following last year. Netflix seems committed to showing the world that Thailand’s storytelling can punch above its weight class, literally.

The martial arts edge

Muay Thai is more than a fighting style. It is a piece of Thailand’s identity. Seeing it infused into a zombie film isn’t just a gimmick, it is a statement. The raw elbows and knee strikes are not there for cinematic flair alone. They reflect a grounded, almost desperate realism that turns each encounter into a test of endurance and heart.

Other zombie films, like Train to Busan, focus on escape and emotional sacrifice. The Raid, though not a zombie film, is often celebrated for its bone-breaking martial arts in confined spaces.

Ziam feels like a chaotic middle ground, merging the emotional weight of Busan with the savage choreography of The Raid. Every move Singh makes feels sweaty, painful, and shockingly intimate, forcing you to flinch with every cracked jaw and echoing thud.

A cast built for quiet intensity

Mark Prin Suparat is already a big name in Thailand, usually cast in romantic dramas where his charm does most of the heavy lifting. Seeing him transform into a blood-soaked fighter, driven by desperation rather than love letters, flips that image on its head. It adds layers to Singh, turning what could have been a simple tough guy into a character constantly wavering between rage and fear.

Nychaa Nuttanicha, known for her more delicate roles, gets to explore a fiercer edge as Rin. Instead of waiting to be rescued, she actively joins the chaos, embodying a quiet resilience that stands out among typical zombie film characters. Vayla Wanvayla, although the youngest, carries a weight that anchors the emotional stakes of the film.

Together, this trio holds the story’s core, making each near-miss and scream in the hallway feel deeply personal rather than just another zombie set piece.

Why Ziam could become a sleeper hit

Ziam probably won’t launch meme trends or dominate red carpets. But like a bite that does not show symptoms right away, it might quietly spread. The blend of traditional martial arts, claustrophobic tension, and strong emotional core gives it the DNA of a cult favorite.

Fans of raw, close-quarters horror who are tired of over-polished Hollywood zombie spectacles might find the film refreshingly grounded. It does not try to save the world, it does not feature a grand military standoff, and there is no shiny last-minute cure. It is just survival, stripped down to the bones.

In the age of endless reboots and big-budget apocalypses, Ziam dares to stay small, and in that tight, sweaty focus, it might find a fiercely loyal audience ready to champion it.